Veterinary Services

Primary open angle glaucoma, also known as POAG, is a painful condition where the pressure in the eye(s) increases over time eventually leading to blindness.

With funding from the Waltham Foundation, the AHT have been investigating an inherited form of this disease which affects the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen dog breed. The research programme progressed extremely well and the causal mutation for this disorder was identified towards the end of 2014. A DNA test for POAG in the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen was launched at Crufts 2015.

Ordering a testTests are available to order online from our Webshop. The standard price of this DNA test is £48 for the UK and countries within the European Union and £40 for countries outside the EU which are exempt from VAT.

Anyone can log on to our Webshop, register if they are not already registered, and order the DNA test kit online. The sample kits will be sent out by post with full instructions and will need to be returned to the AHT by post for testing. Results will be sent to out as soon as they are available, either by post or by email.

DNA TestThe disorder shows an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, which means that two copies of the defective gene (one inherited from each parent) have to be present for a dog to be affected by the disease. Individuals with one copy of the defective gene and one copy of the normal gene, called carriers, show no signs of disease but can pass the defective gene onto their offspring. When two carriers are crossed, 25% (on average) of the offspring will be affected by the disease, 25% will be clear and the remaining 50% will be carriers.

After DNA testing the results will be defined as follows:

CLEAR: The dog has 2 copies of the normal gene and will neither develop POAG, nor pass a copy of the POAG gene to any of its offspring.

CARRIER: The dog has one copy of the normal gene and one copy of the mutant gene that causes POAG. It will not develop POAG but will pass on the POAG gene to 50% (on average) of its offspring.

AFFECTED: The dog has two copies of the POAG mutation and is affected with POAG.

Breeding AdviceCarriers can still be bred to clear dogs. On average, 50% of such a litter will be clear and 50% carriers; there can be no affected dogs produced from such a mating. Pups which will be used for breeding can themselves be DNA tested to determine whether they are clear or carrier of POAG.

The Animal Health Trust is a veterinary charity, based in Suffolk, which offers clinical referral services and diagnostic testing for horses, dogs and cats in East Anglia, across the UK and internationally. Through its research programmes it develops new diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines to help thousands of animals.